Pull-switch.



F; BARR.

FULL SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 14. 1915.

1,1 58,428. Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

UNITED srara FREDERIC BARR, OF WOODHAVEN, NEW YORK.

PULL-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2. 1915.

Application filed April 14, 1915. Serial No. 21,409.

To all whom't't may concern. Be it known that I, FREDERIO Balm, citizen of the United States, and resident of oodhaven, in the county of Queens and -State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pull- Switches, of which the following is a specification.

The invention claimed herein resides principally in the form of the movable switch contact, and the method of disengaging of the pawl and ratchet connection between the spring tensioning lever and the switch lever by a spring finger, and a spindle held loosely by the lower porcelain base.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated in concrete form, several practical embodiments of the invention, wherein these objects are attained by attaching the switch. Fig. 5 is an'enlarged perspective view of the movable switch member with.

ratchet plate to the movable switch member, and insulating it from the movable switch member by insulating disks and insulating washers, and by a spring metal finger attached to the base.

Figure l is a cross sectional view of a pull socket switch embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with the screw shell removed and showing the switch parts as they appear when just'operated, and before the metal finger'separates the spring tensioning lever from the switch lever. Fig. 3' is a cross sectional v'ew through the center of a pull wall swi ch made to fit within the boX or casing, of the type disclosed in my Patent #1,0 97,207. Fig. 4: is a drop perspective view of the parts which go to make up this form of the parts assembled. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the opposite side of the movable switch member. Fig. 7 is a cross sectional'view of the moable switch membcr taken on line 77 in Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic View of the spring tensioning lever, and the switch lever showing them about to engage with the spring fingerf Fig.

9 is a View similar to Fi 8- but showin the spring tensioning lever and the switch lever in engagement with the sprang-finger. Fig. 10 shows a modification 1n the construction of the ratchet plate in which separate rivets are used to hold the different parts of the movable switch member together,"

Referring to the drawings more in detail,

l1 designates the switch base constructed of porcelain or .like insulating material provided with a pair of upwardly inclined stationary switch contacts 12 and 13 held in position by the terminals 14 and 15. C0- operating'with the relativelystationary con tacts is the movable switch member which i is of a new and novel construction as shown 1 in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, being made up of a contact plate 20, which is provided. with oppositely disposed downwardly inclined sprlng contact arms 23, in the plate portion 20 are three openings 21 and 22, into which are placed theinsulating washers 24 and25,

on the lower side of the contact plate 20 is' placed the insulating disk 19 having three openings 21 and 22 to correspond with the three openings 21 and 22 in the contact plate 20. On the upper side of the contact plate 20 is another insulating disk 26 having three openings 21 and 22 to correspond with those in the contact plate 20. The

ratchet plate 39 with two lugs 18 bent at v right angles to the plate is placed on top ofthe insulating'disk 26, the lugs passing throughthe openings 21 in the insulating disk 26, through the insulating washer 2 1, and through the openings 21 in insulating washer 24, and through the openings 21 in the lower insulating disks 19, and clenched as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 7. The tubular metal bushing 17 is then placed in the center opening 22 passing up through the lower insulating disk 19, through the insulating washer 25 in the center of the contact plate 20, and through the center opening 22 in the upper insulating disk 26, and through of the switch are mounted is carried loosely by the lower porcelain base 11 as shown in Fig. 1 and- Fig. 3 the square head of the spindle 16 is seated in a square recess in the porcelain base 11 which keeps the spindle from turning; the spindle 16 is held in place I by the movable parts of the switch; the

spring contacts the throwing spring and the nut on the upper end of the spindle.

The power for throwing the switch is provided. by a quick-acting spring 27. This spring is possessed of considerable force and v is usually closely coiled. The spring is enin the present instance by inter-posing -aswitch lever 32 between the throwing spring and the movable switch'lever, and providing this switch lever with paw ls or teeth 33, engaging with shoulders provided by corresponding ratchet teeth 34:, in the ratchet plate 39, on top of the movable switch 1nember. The switch lever is pivotally engaged on the spindle, being for that purpose usually provided with a central sleeve portion loosely fitting the spindle, and itsratchet teeth face forwardly so as to have driving engagement with the movable switch member in the direction of its rotation. The throwing spring is shown connected with this ratchet lever by hooking its lower end as at 37- to engage a lug 38 struck up from the lever. The spring thus has a bearing against the switch lever to rotate it and the movable switch member which it drives in the forward orcircuit-changing direction.

From the foregoing it will be evident that upon a retractive or backward movement of the switch lever, the switch-throwing spring will be tensione d but no movement will be imparted to the movable switch member. \Vhen in this tensioning movement, the switch lever moves back a distance equal to one ratchet tooth,- the lever drops down into cngagement'with a fresh ratchet tooth on the switch member and the then-tensioned spring is thus coupled in switch-throwing engagement with the movable switch meniber. Uponrelease of the switch lever the spring will then act to throw the switch member with a quick snap action. The forwardthrow of the switch lever is limited by a. stop 10, carried by the basef To prevent delaying or retarding of the action of the switch-throwing spring, I have provided means for automatically taking the control out of the hands of the operator once the throwing spring has been properly tensioned. Such means here takes the form of a lever 43 pivoted on the spindle above the switch. lever and having a oneway connec tion with the switch lever for imparting a spring-tensioning movement thereto. This connection may be in the form of one or a.

number of downwardly struck pawls 44- on the tensioning lever facing in a direction opposite that of the switch movement and arranged to engage shoulders provided by a corresponding number of seats 45 in the switch lever. Disengagement of this pawl and ratchet connection between the springtensioning 'lever .and switch lever is automatically efi'ected when the spring is tensioned by supporting the tensioning lever so that it cannot follow the switch lever when that lever drops downat the time of its engagement with a fresh ratchet tooth on the switch member, by a spring finger 32, attached tothe base that separates the spring .tensioning lever from the switch lever substantially at the instant of the engagement of the switch lever with the new ratchet tooth 011 the movable switch member.

is turned or bent up slightly at 49 and the side edge of switch lever 32 is turned or bent down slightly at 32" as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 and Fig. at so as to form a guide for the spring finger. 1

The spring finger is so adjusted that when the tensioning lever carries the switch lever forward to the instant of its engagement with the ratchet tooth on the movable switch member, the spring finger forces the tensioning lever up and the switch lever down, the spring finger is made of spring metal and is secured to the porcelain base by a screw.

Thespring-tensioning lever is preferably made with a hub portion 48 pivotally engaging over the switch-throwing spring and the central body portion of the lever is usually domed ,or bossed up, as indicated at 49 to accommodate and cover the connection between the throwing spring and the switch lever (Fig.1). To permit the placing of the tensioning lever on the spindle without removing the outstanding anchorage lug, thelever is usually formed with a radial slot 50 large 'enough to pass over the lu The tensioning lever is returned back into driving engagement with the switch lever by a. spring 52 havingits lower endhooked into the radial slot 50 in the tensionin lever and its upper end anchored to the spindle. This spring can be relatively light since the purpose is merely to swing the tensioning lever back into holding engagement with the switch lever.

The anchorage for the returning spring 52 in the first form of the invention is of novel construction in that it comprises a flanged bushing- 53 fitting within the upper Theside edge of the spring tensioning lever 49.

is thereby placed under tension. The movable switch member remains stationary during thismovement, the teeth of the switch lever-sliding back idly .over' the teeth on the switch member. At the end of a movement sufficient to place the throwing spring under proper switch-throwing tension the switch lever has traveled far enough back for its teeth to drop down into engagement with a new set of teeth on the switch member. At the timethe switch lever, and hence the tensioned spring, is thus automaticallycoupled in fresh engagement with the switch memher, the tension'ing, lever is supported by'the spring finger and so cannot follow the switch lever as that lever drops to engage the new ratchet teeth. The, switch lever in coupling itself to-the movable switch mem-' ber, thus in effect drops from beneath the tensioning lever and this drop is sufiicient to uncouple the connection between the tensioning lever and switch lever. The switch lever being now freed from the tensioning lever and coupled to the movable switch member, is thrown suddenly by the throwing spring, thereby'mahing or breaking the circuit as the case may be, with a quick snap action. The closely coiled throwing spring forces the movable switch member down firmly into engagement with its relatively stationary contacts thereby insuring always a good contact. As the pull on the chain is released the returning spring 52 returns the j tensioning lever back into holding engagement with the switch lever. -The stop 10 for the switch lever may be utilized here also to limit the return movement of the spring-tensioning lever.'

Myinvention provides a switch of but.

few and sim' le arts havin a nick-make andquick-break aetiom-and thereforecapable of carrying a considerable current load. The arc-interrupting construction at the switch contacts in addition to preventing the formation of arcs, prevents heating and burning ofthe contact parts. The control may be had by means of apull chain, a lever, or other form of handle as will be ap-. parent to those skilled in the artand it will be understood that other modifications such.

us come within the scope of the invention may be. resorted Itwill be further understood that th terms of description rather than of limitazerms employed herein are f tion, except so far as may be required by the prior art.

What I claim is 1. In an electric switch, a movable switch member, a movable switch lever having its sideedge turned down, a spring tensioning lever having its side'edge turned up and a spring finger engaging the movable switch lever and the spring tensioning lever and separating them at the moment the switch lever drops into connection with switch member.

2. In an electric switch, a movable switch a member, a movable switch lever havinga driving connection with the movable switch member and-having its side edge bent down,

a throwing spring, one end attached to said switch lever, the other end to an anchor lug on end of the spindle, a movable spring tensioning lever having a driving connectlon avith the switchlever and having its side edge bent up, a throwing spring attachedto said tensioning lever to return it to its first osition, and a spring finger for disengagmg the driving connection between spring opening tensioning lever and-"the swltch lever.

3. In an electric switch, a movable switch member, a movable switch'lever having a driving connection with the movable switch member and-having its side edge bent down, a throwing spring, one end attached to the switch lever, the-other end to an anchor lug on endof the spindle, a movable spring tensioning lever having a driving connection with the switchlever, and having its side edge bent up, a throwing spring attached to the tensioning lever to return it to its first position and means for disengaging the driving connection between spring tensionlever and the switch lever;

4. In an electric switch, a movable switch member having openings in the fiat portion,

insulating washers to fit in said openings, insulating disks on the upper and lower sides of said switch membe'rwith openings to correspond with those in the insulating washers in the switch member, a ratchet plate with two lugs to pass through the openings" in said insulating disks. and insulating washers in the switch member and clenchedfast on the lower side of the lower insulating disk, atubulanmetal bushing fitted into the center opening and fastened there to. form a bearing.

5. In an electric switch, a movable switch member having openings in flat or plate portion, insulating washers to -fit in said openings, insulating disks on upper and lower side of switchmember, a ratchet late on top of upper insulating disk, a 'tnular metal bushing in the center opening, and

means for fastening them all together. ,1

6. Inv anelectric switch, the combination of a movable switch member, a, ratchet plate having two lugs by which it can be attached to, and insulated from the movable switch member by insulating washers and insulating disks and a metal bushing fastened into center opening to form a bearing.

7. In an electric switch, a movable switch member having openings in the flat or plate portion, insulating washers in the said open- 'ings, an insulating disk on the upper side of switch member, with openings to corre spond' with those in the insulating washers in the switch member, an insulating disk on the lower side of the switch member with openings to correspond with those in the insulating washers in the switch member, a ratchet plate on the top side of the upper insulating disk, a tubular metal bushing in the center opening forming a bearing and means for fastening them all together.

8. In an electric switch, a movable switch member having insulating washers in plate portion, a ratchet plate, insulating disks on upper and lower sides of switch member and all held together by two rivets and the tubular metal bushing in the center.

9. In an electric switch, a switch base having a square recess, a spindle having a square head, seated in the square recess, a movable switch member j'ournaled on said spindle, a switch lever pivoted on the spindle andhaving a one way drivingconnection with the movable switch member in the direction of its rotation, a switch throwing spring engaging said switch lever, a spring tensioning lever having a one way driving connection with the switch lever in-a direction opposite to that of the switch movement and a spring finger engaging the switch lever and the spring tensioning lever in the spring tensioning movement thereof to assist in separating the connection between the spring tensioning lever and the switch lever.

10. In an electric switch, a switch base having a square recess in its lower portion, a spindle having a square head seated in the recess and loosely held by the base, a switch member pivoted on the spindle, a switch lever pivoted on the spindle above said switch member, a switch 'throwingspring encircling the spindle above said lever anchored to the spindle at its upper end and connected into the switch lever at its lower end, holding the spindle in position.

11. In an electric switch, a movable switch member, a movable switch lever en-.

FREDERIC BAR-R. Vitnesses J; GILMAN, A. Murmur. 

